Inspirational Women: Jodie-Lee focuses on the youth

IN celebration of National Women’s Month the Northglen News will be honouring several heroines who have been striving to improve the lives of fellow South African countrymen as well as our furry companions. Through the series we hope to inspire others through these women’s selfless and tireless work within the community. Every year South Africa commemorates Women’s Month in August as a tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.

OVER the last three weeks we have celebrated a teen who is hoping to improve the education of other young women, a mother of two, who finds the time in her busy schedule to improve the lives of others as well as a group of female animal activists who are striving to end the cycle of abuse and neglect.

Now we get to introduce our fourth and final inspirational woman, Jodie-Lee Donnison, who has set her sights on helping our future generations.

The Durban North resident who has been rallying for donor support for various children’s homes in and around the province is determined to improve the lives of the young and innocent.

After recently facilitating a massive donor drive for the children affected by the devastating fire that ripped through the Lakehaven/Zamani Child and Youth Care Centre in Sea Cow Lake Donnison said she woke up one night with the desire to start her own organisation.

The 23-year-old has now teamed up with Howick resident Sandy Chowles and Lauren Tarr of Pietermaritzburg to launch The Integration Foundation.

“Through the organisation we want to do more than donations. We want to empower and improve the lives of the children,” she explained.

For their first project the trio hopes to roll out the Integration Wraps project, which strives to provide abandoned infants with love and affection.

“People think that food and shelter are all that children need. But this could not be further from the truth. Love and affection is equally important. Children who haven’t had proper love and affection struggle socially for the rest of their lives,” she said.

Babies also need skin on skin contact for the first two weeks of their lives, she said.

“This has been proven to strengthen their immune system. Through the wraps project we will be able to rally volunteers to swaddle the babies and have them snuggle close to their heartbeat,” she added.

When asked why she was focusing her efforts on the children of the community Donnison, who is a sales representative by day, said it is because they are the future.

“Children are so innocent. They forgive so easily. The simplest gift can change their world. We need to make a change now, not only for these children’s future but also for our own children,” she explained.

What’s more, Donnison said she could not ignore the fact that more and more children are being abandoned or find their way onto the streets to suffer through a life without proper love and attention.

• Contact Jodie-Lee Donnison via e-mail jodiedonnison@outlook.com.